The school last fall announced its intention to leave the Big East and join the ACC in all sports but football and hockey. It was expected that the move would take place in the summer of 2014. However, with the impending departure of the Catholic 7 basketball schools, Notre Dame officials accelerated their plans.

Mike Brey and the Notre Dame basketball team could be part of the ACC as early as next season. (AP Photo)

The ACC cleared the way and is ready to accept Notre Dame this summer, should the Fighting Irish be able to negotiation an exit fee with the Big East, according to ESPN.

Had Notre Dame stayed in the Big East for 27 months after notifying the conference last September, it could depart without an exit fee. Instead, it, like the Catholic 7, is negotiating for an early departure.

The Catholic 7 basketball schools — DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova — are expected to announce any day now they have come to a financial settlement to divorce the Big East football schools and create a basketball-centric league. Reportedly, the cost will be $100 million but the basketball schools would keep the Big East brand name and assume the contract to play the conference tournament at Madison Square Garden.

Should Notre Dame negotiate an early exit, too, the Irish would join soon-to-be former Big East schools Pitt and Syracuse in their move to the ACC this summer. This would give the ACC 15 teams for the 2013-14 season and then 16 beginning in 2014-15 when Louisville joins as an all-sports member.

The Irish football team, which plays as an independent, will play five ACC opponents each year beginning in 2014.

What remains of the old Big East would be a shell of itself. Leftovers Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Rutgers, Temple and South Florida will be joined by newcomers Central Florida, Houston, Memphis and SMU in 2013-14 with Tulane joining in 2014-15.

In the summer of 2014, Louisville will leave the conference for the ACC and Rutgers would join the Big Ten. Neither is able to move up its departure dates because scheduling for football is done so far in advance.